Beware of phony "recommendations"... a reminder

[china addict]

Wonder if she was able to write off the cost of her cruise as a business expense?

[Glenndale]

[quote name='pacheco18']Now would you like to hear about the woman who was selling jewelry from here stateroom on the cruise from which I just disembarked?


There are lots of stories in the naked city
Everyone trying to make a buck.
We were all aghast but no one reported her.[/QUOTE]

I recall on one cruise I took that there was a lady selling jewellery, would have been on Oceania or Azamara.
It wasn't my style but I know others were buying from her.

We've taken many private tours on the roll calls and mostly all emails from the agent are shared.
I know it can be a lot of time and energy sorting these groups out and a nuisance when people sign up but bail out before the cruise.
A heartfelt thank you to all of my fellow cruisers who have taken the time to research and organise a private tour. Edited August 6, 2014 by Glenndale

[ChatKat in Ca.]

[quote name='china addict']Wonder if she was able to write off the cost of her cruise as a business expense?[/quote]

No, she cannot. Well you can write off anything but if you get caught....you can have a long vacation with no amenities. And No Tipping! Or drinking.

[pacheco18]

[quote name='ChatKat in Ca.']No, she cannot. Well you can write off anything but if you get caught....you can have a long vacation with no amenities. And No Tipping! Or drinking.[/QUOTE]


No balcony
No butler
Meals included but no specialty restaurants

And no trivia


Not worth it


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[hondorner]

We, too, were at that pre-cruise dinner Mark organized. It was fabulous -- over 40 people in the back room of a Barcelona restaurant, at a horseshoe shaped table so everyone could see each other and even hear a lot of it. This at an early evening time when most Spanish restaurants are not yet open!

As I recall, several people attempted to put this together but none could find a cooperative location. Seemingly out of nowhere, Mark set up this whole thing. I can't imagine the time, effort (and likely cost) Mark put into this, the most successful of such gatherings we've attended. Yet he refused to take anything. Edited August 6, 2014 by hondorner

[glenneagle]

I usually organize our private tours.I share all e mails from the guides so everyone knows the cost ect. We have met wonderful people from cruise critic and shared many tours.This summer we joined a few other couples on a tour organized by a fellow travler.At the end of the tour the guide collected our money and announced our organizer paid fifty percent less than the rest of us for arranging the tour.We were shocked,I would have shared the discount with fellow ccs. We avoid them the rest of the trip, who makes a profit for arranging a tour?.

[tropicalkerry2002]

when that was announced!

I'm sure the organizer did HIS best to avoid everyone on that tour, once back on the ship!

Edited August 9, 2014 by tropicalkerry2002

[tanny18]

I too was on the cruise with Laraine and even tho we didn't SEE the actually jewelry (someone told us they were cheap earrings), we saw what the seller of the jewelry looked liked and to be kind, somewhat dowdy and unkempt. It took great big brass ones to solicit people to look at the jewelry and we were surprised she wasn't caught!

 

As for booking tours, the only extra I get is for a foreign transaction fee or a wire transfer fee (of which there have been a few). I also do it for selfish reasons - better prices for everyone, small groups and of course telling the guide where we want to go. You meet the nicest people when you book a private tour. Everyone is happy you did it and I'm happy they are happy. To get more payment from the group would be beyond the scope of what I and others do. Arlene;)

[LHT28]

I too was on the cruise with Laraine and even tho we didn't SEE the actually jewelry (someone told us they were cheap earrings), we saw what the seller of the jewelry looked liked and to be kind, somewhat dowdy and unkempt. It took great big brass ones to solicit people to look at the jewelry and we were surprised she wasn't caught!

 

 

What is more surprising is no one reported her to management :eek:

[tanny18]

What is more surprising is no one reported her to management :eek:

 

Maybe everyone who bought, liked the jewelry so much, they couldn't bring themselves to report her. I never saw anything, so I couldn't very well say anything!! It's called chutzpah! :rolleyes: Arlene

[pacheco18]

Just curious. Does it state anywhere in the contract of carriage that passengers may not engage in commerce ?

 

Could a trAvel agent offer services?

Could an avon rep hand out catalogs?

 

It's tacky. But is it truly a violation of any rule?

 

 

 

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[LHT28]

Just curious. Does it state anywhere in the contract of carriage that passengers may not engage in commerce ?

 

Could a trAvel agent offer services?

Could an avon rep hand out catalogs?

 

It's tacky. But is it truly a violation of any rule?

 

 

 

 

I am sure if you look through the T & C's there would be something in there otherwise it would be a free for all with people selling things onboard :D

 

Maybe O could rent out market stalls in one of the underused public areas for passengers wanting to sell their wares

Edited August 9, 2014 by LHT28

[pacheco18]

I am sure if you look through the T & C's there would be something in there otherwise it would be a free for all with people selling things onboard :D

 

Maybe O could rent out market stalls in one of the underused public areas for passengers wanting to sell their wares

 

The casino. LOL

 

It may not be in the contract because it never occurred to anyone that it would happen. It should be in there.

 

I know that my TA tells me that when he sails he NEVER will solicit a customer -- thinks it's improper -- especially since he is getting a deal from whatever cruise line he is on. On the other hand, I was on a cruise where a TA from Canada was passing out cards and touting her skills. She was actually having "meetings" in the Lounge trying to get customers. Anyone have their blue booklet and care to take a look? I discard mine (I know -- heresy).

[pacheco18]

I found it on line -- the woman should have been thrown off the ship.

 

25. NO SOLICITATION

You shall not solicit other Guests for commercial purposes or advertise goods and services on board the Ship without the Carrier’s prior written permission. Solicitation in any form will result in mandatory disembarkation from the Ship with no refund for any unused portion of the Cruise or CruiseTour Fare or other pre-purchased items including Your return airfare.

[LHT28]

I found it on line -- the woman should have been thrown off the ship.

 

.

 

Exactly but those that knew about her chose not to report her :rolleyes:

[pacheco18]

I not sure most people are aware of this provision.

 

I certainly was not. I just thought it was "tacky" and "inappropropriate." Had I realized her actions contravened a provision in the contract I would have reported her. I have no tolerance for that. But truthfully, I was unaware of the prohibition.

[Jancruz]

...and Oceania means it..it has happened that people have been disembarked several times..

I too would have reported her..

Jancruz1

[sitraveler]

On one of our Europe to Rio TA's there was a young man who represented his family emerald businesses. We met him at EWR and saw him several times on the cruise, but we were not solicited. He told us O was aware of him but continued to sell him cruises- so he went. Although we have not seen him since.

[LHT28]

On one of our Europe to Rio TA's there was a young man who represented his family emerald businesses. We met him at EWR and saw him several times on the cruise, but we were not solicited. He told us O was aware of him but continued to sell him cruises- so he went. Although we have not seen him since.

 

Was he selling his product on the ship??

 

 

People in business do travel on O the problem is when they are selling their products to the passengers without permission of Oceania ;)

[sitraveler]

He arranged for those who were interested to be met at the port and to be taken to the showroom.

[Paulchili]

He arranged for those who were interested to be met at the port and to be taken to the showroom.

 

I have seen this on other S. American cruises as well (B.A to Rio).

The company will give "free" tours in Rio with a stop in their store - not obliged to purchase anything. One cruise had reps from 3 different large jewelers in Rio handing out cards.

[RJB]

No one should be suprised by these things. This is the real world and it happens all the time. There are con men and con women all over back home. Just because we are on vacation we can not let our guard down. We would not do it at home and should not do it on a ship. :(:(

[Paulchili]

No one should be suprised by these things. This is the real world and it happens all the time. There are con men and con women all over back home. Just because we are on vacation we can not let our guard down. We would not do it at home and should not do it on a ship. :(:(

 

I am not sure to whom you are replying but we did take a tour in Rio with one of the jewelry companies.

We have been to Rio several times before so we did not want to see the usual tourist places.

Instead we went to the Botanical Gardens and had a great lunch at Porcao in Botafogo. Nothing like doing it with a local!

We did visit their shop and DW got some beautiful (and reasonably priced) costume jewelry.

There was no charge for the 'tour" but we tipped the driver and guide (in addition to treating them to lunch).

All in all a great day!

[StanandJim]

I am not sure to whom you are replying but we did take a tour in Rio with one of the jewelry companies.

We have been to Rio several times before so we did not want to see the usual tourist places.

Instead we went to the Botanical Gardens and had a great lunch at Porcao in Botafogo. Nothing like doing it with a local!

We did visit their shop and DW got some beautiful (and reasonably priced) costume jewelry.

There was no charge for the 'tour" but we tipped the driver and guide (in addition to treating them to lunch).

All in all a great day!

 

I agree with you one hundred percent, Paul, but then I'm one of those rebels who insists that those infamous rug buying expeditions in Turkey can have a similarly happy end.

We are by no means shoppers while on vacation, but we found the tour of the Factory -outside Ephesus, in our case- to be absolutely fascinating, we had done enough research, before the trip, to know that the rugs which we purchased were of exquisite quality, and although they are so beautiful that we have not mustered sufficient nerve to actually walk on them yet, stateside insurance appraisers (I sometimes think that Stans' middle name must be Hartford) assure us that we did quite well price wise.

Not all of our vacation purchases have turned out equally well. For example, there is no quicker way to kill a rousing game of Bunco, than to whip out the amber dice which looked so elegant in the display cases of St. Petersburg,

 

-and don't even get me started on how they effect a friendly game of Yahtzee......:(

Edited August 14, 2014 by StanandJim

[Jancruz]

Stu and I also bought a beautiful rug 10 years ago in Turkey and had a great time in the store laughing..and still love it (althouh the dog, as a puppy, did chew some of the fringe) it fits our home perfectly and it is in my office an everytime I walk in it reminds me of our wonderful trip!!

Jim, I cant believe you play bunco..Ive tried and tried but cant get into it although I love word on my Ipad..

Jancruz1